With over 13,000 pounds of supplies delivered, East Texas volunteers say the work is just beginning as cleanup efforts lag behind
SAN ANGELO, Texas — As the media spotlight fades from the deadly flash floods that tore through Central Texas earlier this month, volunteers from East Texas are stepping in with much-needed supplies—and a commitment to stay long after the headlines are gone.
Hello Huntsville, in partnership with First Baptist Church Huntsville, organized a regional relief effort last week that resulted in more than 13,000 pounds of supplies and nearly $4,000 in donations being delivered to flood-ravaged areas including San Angelo, San Saba, and Georgetown.
The team collected donations over four days, from July 7 to 10, and filled a 26-foot U-Haul box truck with food, water, diapers, hygiene items, cleaning supplies, and other essentials. More than 25 volunteers from the Texas Department of Criminal Justice’s Huntsville Unit helped load the truck.
Truck stops were made by First Baptist Church Huntsville volunteers Jeremy Wion and James Beam in San Saba at First Baptist Church and Church of Christ, where local congregations received items to support families impacted by the flood. Additional deliveries were made in Georgetown by Hello Huntsville’s Rob Hipp and Chrissy Cogdell of First Touch Family. FBC volunteers Joshua Mahshi and Alissa Wion also assisted in the efforts. The team delivered $350 in H-E-B gift cards, along with children’s clothing, baby items and diapers, to ClearView Family Resources in San Saba.
The remaining donations were delivered to a warehouse in San Angelo, where Concho Valley Turning Point, PaulAnn Church, and other partners will lead distribution efforts for families still reeling from the storm’s aftermath.
Kerrville was among the hardest-hit cities in the Hill Country, with widespread damage and deadly floodwaters, but Huntsville volunteers intentionally focused on communities like San Angelo and San Saba—areas that have been overlooked in national coverage but remain in crisis.
Ernesto Corpus, a San Angelo resident and volunteer, has been on the front lines daily since the flooding began.
“There was a house literally in the middle of the street,” Corpus said. “Cars were leaned up against trees. There was a man who’s bedridden—he had water up to his bed. Another woman I met, in her 70s, told me she had lost everything.”
Corpus said that while the tragedy has shaken the city, it has also stirred a movement of compassion.
“Through all the bad, all the sadness, all the damages, one thing I can say is that I’m very thankful to God because it has brought this community together,” he said. “A lot of the churches are coming together. Volunteers are helping clean out homes, tear down sheetrock, and pass out food, diapers, clothing—even dog food.”
Corpus, who serves as vice president of “Through God Comes Justice,” a jail ministry supporting incarcerated individuals and their families, has also helped organize local logistics. “Families are coming to us saying, ‘We need this, we need that,’ and we’re able to provide it,” he said. “We’re all working hand in hand to get help to those who need it most.”
He estimates that as much as a quarter of San Angelo has been affected by the flood, impacting as many as 30,000 residents. “Most people here don’t have flood insurance,” he said. “They’ve lost everything.”
Corpus said the donation from Huntsville came at a critical moment.
“I had just run out of supplies,” he said. “We had filled a 40-foot flatbed trailer, and it was gone in a day. Then I got the call that you guys were coming. That was God.”
He described the distribution setup in San Angelo as well-organized. “People come in, sign in, get clothes if they need them, grab boxes of food, water, hygiene products,” he said. “There’s no pressure. They’re told, ‘If you need to come back tomorrow, come back.’”
Still, not everyone is ready to accept help.
“Some people couldn’t even bring themselves to take what we were offering,” Corpus said. “It hurt my heart. I know that feeling—being too prideful to ask for help. But others are just still in shock. They’ve lost everything and don’t know where to start.”
Rob Hipp, who led Hello Huntsville’s organizing efforts, says more help is urgently needed—and not just supplies.
“The work isn’t done,” Hipp said. “We need boots on the ground to help now with physical cleanup. Ninety percent of people leave after the cameras leave. I want us to be the 10 percent who stays and finds ways to help.”
Hipp says information on how East Texans can sign up to volunteer will be released soon.
“There’s still water in homes. Families are trying to gut out sheetrock and salvage what they can. Some people are staying in hotels or with friends. Others have nowhere to go,” he said.
Corpus echoed that call, noting that volunteer manpower will be critical in the weeks ahead. “Some houses still have two feet of water inside,” he said. “We’ll need people here to help for a long time.”
Despite the exhaustion, Corpus said his faith and community keep him going.
“I’ve been working 15-hour days, but I’m thankful to the Lord because He gives us strength,” he said. “What you all are doing in Huntsville—that’s God’s heart in action.”
As recovery efforts shift from emergency relief to long-term cleanup, Hipp emphasized that the mission is far from over.
“We’re just getting started,” he said. “Now it’s time to show up, stay present, and be part of the rebuilding.”
Details about upcoming volunteer opportunities and future trips to support San Angelo and surrounding communities will be posted soon by Hello Huntsville.